ABC denies Walmart, Target beer and wine permits
ABC Director Michael Langley denied requests by Walmart Stores to sell retail beer and wine in three Fayetteville store locations on Wednesday, as well as a beer permit requested by Fayetteville’s Target store.
Langley said that he denied the requests based on an opposition letter he received from Fayetteville police chief Greg Tabor.
“Anytime we get opposition from a police chief, mayor, city council member, prosecuting attorney or sheriff, we’ll deny a request, and the applicant can then seek an appeal from the board,” Langley said.
Walmart’s appeal is expected to be heard by the board of the ABC at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 18 and 19.
Tabor opposed the Walmart permit, as well as other retail beer and wine permits in Fayetteville recently based on concern over underage drinking and the Fayetteville police force’s ability to monitor the sale of beer to minors.
Laurie Smalling, a spokesperson for Walmart said that sales to minors is not something Walmart takes lightly.
“Before an cashier can sell beer (at Walmart) they have to go through an extensive computer based learning course, and they have to score a 100 percent,” Smalling said. “We also have cashiers go to another one of our stores that sell beer and wine and do a day of pure training. It’s something that we take very seriously.”
The permit that Walmart is seeking, if approved by the ABC board next month, would allow them to sell beer and small farm wines that produce less than 250,000 gallons of wine per year. Walmart is seeking the permit for their two Supercenter locations in Fayetteville as well as Walmart Neighborhood Market on E. Citizens Dr.
Comments
The Fayetteville Flyer doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy.
By burgerboy on October 23rd, 2009
Eh, it allows some small-business owners to continue in Fayetteville. I doubt Wal-Mart or Target would have been enough cheaper to make a big difference in my bottom line. Just convenient, I guess.
By Justin S. on October 23rd, 2009
I don’t drink that much but I do enjoy my dark beer a few times a year. I also enjoy my wine to cook with (I love Sam’s prices for that)! Wal-Mart has a good track record and will bring in local wines (I hope local beers too). Burgerboy is right, the bottom line won’t change much but we should start seeing a better range of quality beers.
By Fayettevilleres on January 21st, 2010
How is it any harder to police underage sales at Wal-Mart and Target than it is at gas stations and liquor stores? Maybe I’m missing some very elementary process here? Maybe they should check in with the law enforcement in Hot Springs to see how they do it (beer and wine sales are legal in grocery stores). To address the small business issue, I live beside a very large liquor store that stocks a great wine selection so even if Wal-Mart is granted this permit I will continue to support my neighborhood wine stop (because of selection) BUT I would like the convenience being able to pick up a case of beer or a bottle of table wine when I’m at Wal-Mart or Target.